Ackislander

There have been some recent posts here about moving to Orlando and elsewhere in Florida. Some of the responses have referred to Florida's reptile life, others have pooh-poohed the danger.

News on Boston Channel 5 this morning reports a RI man on vacation in Orlando, bitten by a cottonmouth water mocassin while looking at a baby alligator in a man-made pond on the grounds of the JW Marriott (!). He is in intensive care as a result of this "perfect storm", receiving anti-venin and likely to recover.

Yes, his chances of dying on the way to the airport or from the airport to the hotel are far greater than his chances of being bitten by a poisonous snake, but it happens, particularly near water, and it sure would spoil your vacation!

tchoiniere

Thats why you dont go near Fresh Water or Deep Grass in FL. It should be common sense...Probably a sign near the pond too for No Trespassing.

gail

I have an above average fear of wildlife (like coyotes near my mailbox) and pre-travel anxieties - but never would I think to be afraid of much while vacationing at a Marriott in Florida. Will have to expand my list.

Orlando_Vic

In the 23 years I have lived in the Orlando area, this is the first such incident (in a tourist area) I am aware of. There are very occasional (i.e. rare) reports of a pigmy rattler hiding in a nursery potted plant and then biting a shopper. But, the thing to remember is that Central Florida is not New York City.

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

mlgb

Heck when you go to Cape Canaveral they warn you not to step into any flooded swales or standing water..

Rich

That's better than being bitten by an aligator while watching a snake . . .

nytraveler

We stayed at the Hyatt Grand Cypress in Orlando and they have a lake with small boats. they were very careful to mention that the lake was NOT for swimming - and not even to trail your hands in the water from a boat - since there was no guarantee that there weren;t any gators in the lake. (Not there when the hotel/lake were built - but in the years in between who knows what animals migrated there - or who released pets that grew too large.)

Agree that you need to be aware of potential wildlife encounters almost anyplace. (NYC hs it;s share of animals and I wouldn;t want to mess with some of the rates in Central Prk - never mind coyotes et al.)

jillc1

I also stayed at this Marriott; and one night after dinner; went into the jacuzzi. One of my colleagues; a life guard in her earlier years; when she got out; she put her shoes on; saying; its the life guard in me never to walk bare foot. Me... I shunned the shoes; coming from snow covered New England; and welcomed the warmth of the walkway back from the pool area to the lobby on my bare feet. Almost at the lobby; I suddenly stepped onto what I thought was a garden hose; it was under the arch of my foot. Suddenly I looked down and realized it WAS NOT A GARDEN HOSE! It was a SNAKE! Needless to say I went shreeking into the lobby of the hotel; mascera running down my face; (which I only noticed when I got back to my room and looked in the mirror); what a sight I must have been...Note to self; no more barefeet in Florida.

NeoPatrick

Add to your list playing golf. Do you know how many golfers are struck by lightning on golf courses every year? Way more than are bitten by poisonous snakes.

MollyinFL

Note it was a Boston channel that reported it, never heard it here on the local news.

Cranachin

Mollyin FL - the Orlando Sentinel reported it, at least in their online edition.

Note to all - "cottonmouth water moccasin" is redundant. A cottonmouth is the same thing as a water moccasin.

Aduchamp1

But, the thing to remember is that Central Florida is not New York City.

We have alligators in the sewers but the cotton mouths are the drunks in the morning.

suewoo

Adu, true!

I wouldn't get anywhere near a baby alligator. Big Mama could be close.

JJ5

So very true about golfers and lightening strikes. And not just in FL or tropical climes. It happens routinely here in IL. So much so, that they now have designated employees that go out and force all the golfers to get into safer areas when they don't response to signals etc.

My youngest son's best friend went to Costa Rica on his honeymoon. They were there 2 days and went swimming. Barely got wet before she was stung by a jellyfish in the shallows. They have a story to tell their grandkids. Horrible pain and allergic reactions and far from hospital. She came home on do it yourself crutches and he never did get to the zip line he went there to do. Stuff like that can happen anywhere. Because you don't always know the context of what locals might, which makes it more likely.

I am appalled and get overly involved at least twice a year because of what I see swimmers who are barely swimmers do near New Buffalo on Lake Michigan. Absolutely stupid and even after they are told, they sometimes keep right on jumping from breakwaters etc. Every single year at least 3 to 6 people, usually with kids or younger adults being multiple victims, and almost always from Chicago on vacation, drown there. Regardless of the signs, and the barriers and the beach police etc.

zzzot2

Your point?

NeoPatrick

"Your point?"
Probably that there are a million things that cause accidents besides cottonmouths biting people in Florida.

Since the OP started with a reference to moving to Orlando, it seemed to suggest that this extremely rare incident might be a reason not to. If that was the original point, that's quite foolish in my book. Just as foolish as suggesting a move to New York could cause you to fall in front of a subway, or a move to California could find you a victim of an earthquake disaster.

Aduchamp1

I'm more afraid of the gift shops in Orlando.

Ackislander

NeoPatrick, at the time I posted this, my tongue was firmly in my cheek. Much naivete had been exhibited of the "will I need a coat?" variety. I am surprised that it continues to draw responses, though I remain rather proud of the catchy subject line.

It would be fun to join JJ5 in a "tourist dangers" or "dopy tourists" thread, but I won't highjack my own thread, despite having some doozies!

NeoPatrick

Uh-oh. Yes, I thought your post was tongue in cheek, but now I realize it looks like I thought it was serious in my last post. What I should have said was something like "if that were REALLY the point of the original post -- that would be foolish. . ." I didn't mean to suggest you were foolish for posting it! Yes, a simple "if you needed a reason for not moving to Florida -- here's a really offbeat one!"